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Homovanillic Acid (HVA), Urine (24-hour or Random)

Order Name HVA Urine
Test Number: 5613567
Revision Date 12/10/2022
Test Name Methodology LOINC Code
Homovanillic Acid (HVA), Urine (24-hour or Random)
Liquid Chromatography/Tandem Mass Spectrometry  
SPECIMEN REQUIREMENTS
Specimen Specimen Volume (min) Specimen Type Specimen Container Transport Environment
Preferred 4 mL aliquot (1 mL aliquot) Urine, 24-hour 24 hour Urine Container Refrigerated
Instructions Notes: 1 mL aliquot (Note: This volume Does NOT allow for repeat testing).
Specimen Type: Plastic urine container (6N HCl is optional)
Specimen Storage: Maintain specimen at room temperature. STABLE for 14 days at room temperature, refrigerated, or frozen.
Specimen Collection: Instruct the patient to void at 8 AM and discard the specimen. Then collect all urine including the final specimen voided at the end of the 24-hour collection period (ie, 8 AM the next morning). Measure and record total urine volume. Mix well; send aliquot. Label container with patient's name, date and time collection started, and date and time collection finished.
Special Instructions: Record total 24-hour urine volume on the request form.
Specimen Stability: Ambient: 14 days, Refrigerated : 14 days, Frozen: 14 days
GENERAL INFORMATION
Expected TAT 3 - 6 days  
Clinical Use Homovanillic acid (HVA) results are expressed as a ratio to creatinine excretion (mg/g CRT). HVA mass per day (mg/d) is not reported on specimens from patients younger than 18 years of age, or for random specimens, urine collection periods other than 24 hours, or urine volumes less than 400 mL/d. No reference interval is available for results reported in units of mg/L. Slight or moderate increases in catecholamine metabolites may be due to extreme anxiety, essential hypertension, intense physical exercise, or drug interactions. Significant increase of one or more catecholamine metabolites (several times the upper reference limit) is associated with an increased probability of a secreting neuroendocrine tumor. 
Notes Labcorp Test Code: 120253
CPT Code(s) 83150
Service Provided By Labcorp Oklahoma, Inc.
Lab Section Reference Lab